by Brendan O’Donnell

The Free Church in Canada, 1844-1861

The Free Church, a breakaway faction of the Established Church of Scotland, was characterized by its missionary zeal, theological orthodoxy, unity, financial solvency, and involvement in politics when it touched moral issues such as slavery, temperance, and sabbath breaking. Among the prominent Lower Canadians who were attracted to the Free Church were John Redpath, Adam Ferrie, William Murray and John Rose.